09/18/2025
Chapter #5. The season of growth. When we look back at this season as coaches, parents, grandparents and friends of the team, this is the season where we label growth. Growth in our success, growth in how to handle failure, growth in learning the game, growth in learning how to be a leader. Team #5 coming off a record setting 30 win season played with grit this season. If you followed us this season the theme was pitching. In the class of 2030 the Ducks in my opinion hold the #1 starter in their respective school. Toronto (Danko), East Liverpool (Keyes), Creek (Speece) and Steubenville (Wilson). These guys were dominant this season and was one of many bright spots. They competed every time they took the ball. Wojtas, Dittman and Manley also pitched extremely well when their number was called. If you’re a pitcher, this is the place to be. Outfield play was also a bright spot as Roach, Shepherd and our Swiss Army knife Banfield played lights out. Speece shut down the running game behind the dish and our MIF of Danko and Banks was solid as usual. Danko was a pillar of consistency at the plate as well in 2025 leading in almost every category. K***z was a wall behind the plate giving max effort every pitch. Team #5 has some things we need to improve on, and we WILL. Hitting, base running and 3rd base play is where we struggled this season, all of which are correctable. I as a coach have to do better in those areas to help them succeed. We will look to lengthen the lineup next season behind Banks, Danko, Wilson, Keyes and Banfield by adding a couple bats. I will also work my tail off to help my guys get better in the box, that’s my promise to my guys!! I am so proud of these guys as we continued to get better as the season went on. With the JH season taking away a month of travel it took us a little while to gel. The last few tournaments we played really good baseball. We beat some extremely good teams this season along with the #1 team in WV and also lost to some that we had no business losing to, but that’s baseball and that’s the growth my guys will learn from. Team #5, I’m proud to be your coach and I’m honored you chose to play for the Ducks. Thank you to all our families (who are like family to me)without you, none of this would even be possible. Thanks to my coaches, Coach Speece, Coach Keyes and Coach Mac i couldn’t do it without you guys. Thank you to my dad for always helping me get the field ready to play on. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone of you. I look forward to Team #6 and can’t wait to get back after it. Be proud Ducks because I’m proud of you!!! 🦆🦆⚾️
